Deadhead Gold Rum
Deadhead Gold Rum is produced by Iconic Brands, distilled and bottled in Veracruz, Mexico. www.deadheadrum.com
Deadhead Gold Rum
Deadhead Gold Rum is produced by Iconic Brands. Aged for six years in oak casks this rum is distilled and bottled in Veracruz, Mexico. Deadhead has been featured nationwide at various Tiki events such as Ohana: Luau at the Lake on the East Coast and Tiki Oasis on the West Coast. Embraced as a quality ingredient rum, it has also been showcased in quite a few Rum/Tiki cocktail competitions.
This gold rum is the first of the Deadhead line which will also feature silver and spiced expressions.
Appearance/Presentation
This 750 ml bottle is hard to miss on the shelf. You may see it on the shelf in a cloth bag with the Deadhead logo on the side or loose depending on the preference of the store. This tall brown bottle is encased in a plastic shell that is modeled after a Tsanta, better known as a Shrunken head.
The hair makes up the neck and cap of the bottle. The cap, which holds a plastic cork and is shaped so that it can be used as a shot glass, is secured by a security strip that notes that this is an imported rum that has been aged for six years.
The bulb of the bottle features raffia-sewn eyes and mouth with the Deadhead logo scribed across the forehead. The logo is repeated on the back along with the required legal requirements.
Due to the casing it is not possible to see the rum in the bottle; however, the pour reveals a gold rum with light amber hues.
Nose
The sweet aroma begins with a rush of caramel and vanilla. As it settles I detect allspice, cocoa, anise and a hint of orange.
Palate
The rum provides a buttery mouth feel, followed by caramel, funky oak, anise, and allspice, with a harsh alcohol bite leading into a clove finish.
Review
During the summer I experimented with Deadhead in several different kinds of cocktails. From the first sip, I knew the rum would be best suited as an ingredient. We found it did very well in any recipe that called for a gold rum. However where it really shined was in our Rum punch.
This 80 proof rum balances and plays well with fruit juices. Once mixed, the harshness of the rum mellows and the oak is subdued into an enjoyable earthy flavor experience. The sweetness of the aroma does not really translate to the palate, which allows it to function as nice grounding baseline for your cocktail creations.
No matter the spirit, when I see a cool bottle design I worry about the quality of the liquid in the bottle. Usually it is just a gimmick to entice the buyer into a questionable purchase that often leads to a bad experience. Deadhead provides a gold rum that is a good fit in any rum collection.
While the bottle is fun, the liquid steps up where it counts. Coming in at around 30 dollars a bottle, some consumers may balk at the price for a gold rum. I have no problem paying it due to the sheer versatility of the product. With Halloween approaching you cannot deny the bottle design is a great fit for the season.
Cocktail
Here is a rum punch recipe for your enjoyment:
3 Cups cold water
1 pint Mango Sorbet (thawed)
2- 12 oz. Cans Orange/Pineapple Concentrate (thawed)
1 1/4 Cup White Rum
3/4 Cup Gold Rum
1/4 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Grenadine
3 Tablespoons Lime Juice
1/2 teaspoon Fresh Grated Nutmeg
Mix, serve over ice; may be made up to 4 hours in advance
Review by Mr. Paul Senft:
Mr. Senft currently serves as owner of www.rumjourney.com. He has a passion for rum and traveling. He has dedicated himself to describing to his readers about his travels through the Caribbean Islands and writing rum reviews. When he is not reviewing a rum, he is hard at work at trying different cocktail recipes.